No-Fault Case Law

Omphil Care, Inc. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51605(U))

The relevant facts considered by the court were that Omphil Care, Inc., as the assignee of Asuncion Villagra, had moved for summary judgment to recover first-party no-fault benefits from Allstate Insurance Company. Allstate had cross-moved for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that Omphil Care had failed to appear for scheduled examinations under oath. The main issue decided was whether Allstate's cross motion for summary judgment should be granted, and the holding of the court was that the cross motion was denied. The court affirmed the denial of Omphil Care's motion for summary judgment, but modified the order to deny Allstate's cross motion for summary judgment. Therefore, the court's decision allowed Omphil Care to continue with its lawsuit to recover the no-fault benefits.
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Omphil Care, Inc. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51604(U))

The court considered a case where Omphil Care, Inc. as the assignee of Rocio Cruz, was seeking to recover first-party no-fault benefits from Allstate Insurance Company. The main issue decided was whether Allstate had the grounds to dismiss the complaint on the basis that Omphil Care, Inc. had failed to appear for scheduled examinations under oath. The court ultimately held that Allstate's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was denied, affirming the decision of the lower court. The court cited the reasons stated in a similar case, Omphil Care, Inc., as Assignee of Paul Fabiola v Allstate Ins. Co., as the basis for their decision. The appellate term judges Pesce, Aliotta, and Solomon all concurred with the decision.
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Omphil Care, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51603(U))

The relevant facts considered by the court were that the plaintiff, Omphil Care, P.C., sought to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from the defendant, Allstate Insurance Company. The plaintiff had moved for summary judgment, while the defendant had cross-moved for summary judgment, arguing that the plaintiff had failed to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath. The main issue decided by the court was whether the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint should be denied. The holding of the court was that the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was denied, and the order was affirmed with the modification. The decision date for this case was November 1, 2016.
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Omphil Care, Inc. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51602(U))

The relevant facts the court considered in this case were that the plaintiff, Omphil Care, Inc., as the assignee of Paul Fabiola, sought to recover first-party no-fault benefits from Allstate Insurance Company. The main issue decided was whether the denial of claim form had been timely mailed. The court held that the defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was denied. The court found that the defendant failed to demonstrate that the denial of claim form had been timely mailed, and therefore, the defendant was not entitled to summary judgment. Additionally, the court found that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate its entitlement to summary judgment, as the affidavit submitted by the plaintiff did not establish that the claim at issue had not been timely denied. Therefore, the court modified the order by providing that the defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.
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Central Park Physical Medicine & Rehab., P.C. v National Liab. & Fire Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51598(U))

The relevant facts considered by the court were that the defendant, National Liability & Fire Insurance Company, had moved for summary judgment in a case brought by Central Park Physical Medicine & Rehab., P.C. to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The defendant sought to dismiss the fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, and fifteenth causes of action on the ground that the plaintiff's assignor had failed to appear for scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs). The main issue decided by the court was whether the defendant had timely and properly mailed its IME scheduling letters and denial of claim forms. The holding of the court was that the defendant failed to establish that the IME scheduling letters had been timely and properly mailed, and therefore failed to demonstrate entitlement to summary judgment dismissing the specified causes of action. As a result, the court affirmed the order denying the branches of the defendant's motion seeking summary judgment.
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Renelique v Lancer Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51596(U))

The main issue of the case was whether to strike a pleading for failure to comply with court-ordered disclosure. The court considered the fact that the plaintiff had failed to provide discovery responses to outstanding demands within the given timeframe and had refused to adequately comply with discovery requests, even after being directed to do so by court order. The court held that the plaintiff's conduct was willful and contumacious, and there was an absence of a reasonable excuse for its failure to comply. Therefore, the court affirmed the order and granted the branch of the defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3126.
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Infinity Chiropractic Health, P.C. v Republic W. Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51564(U))

The case involved a dispute over first-party no-fault benefits resulting from a motor vehicle accident. The insurance company had initiated a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration that it was not obligated to pay the claims. The Supreme Court had granted a default judgment in favor of the insurance company against some of the medical providers involved. The insurance company then moved for summary judgment in the Civil Court, arguing that the action was barred by the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel due to the default judgment in the prior action. The court granted summary judgment in favor of the insurance company, finding that the default judgment in the prior action barred the plaintiff from recovering for services rendered to one of the individuals involved in the accident. The court held that the claims underlying the fifth through eighth causes of action were barred by the prior judgment. In summary, the main issues decided were whether the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel applied to the prior default judgment, and whether the plaintiff was barred from recovering no-fault benefits for services rendered to an individual based on the prior judgment. The court held that the prior judgment was a conclusive final determination barring the plaintiff from recovering for services rendered to the individual, and therefore, the branches of the insurance company's motion seeking summary judgment were granted.
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Ave T MPC Corp. v Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51563(U))

The court considered the facts that in an action to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, the plaintiff entered into a stipulation with the defendant to provide legible copies of the claims at issue, and failed to do so. The defendant then moved to preclude the plaintiff from offering any evidence and to dismiss the complaint. The main issue decided was whether the plaintiff had failed to comply with the stipulation and the 60-day time requirement set forth in the order, and if so, whether the plaintiff should be precluded from using the claim forms at issue. The holding of the court was that the plaintiff did fail to comply with the stipulation and the 60-day time requirement, and therefore, the judgment to preclude the plaintiff and dismiss the complaint was affirmed.
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J.K.M. Med. Care, P.C. v Interboro Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 26348)

This case involved an action by a medical provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint due to a judgment previously entered against the plaintiff in another action. The Civil Court previously denied this motion and granted the plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment. After judgment was entered in the amount of $993.34, the defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, as the amount due had been satisfied, or alternatively for an order granting a satisfaction of judgment. The Civil Court denied this second motion and all requested relief. The court modified the denial of the defendant's request for the entry of a satisfaction of judgment, remitting the matter to the Civil Court for further determination. Decision: The order was modified by vacating the denial of the defendant's motion for the entry of a satisfaction of judgment and the matter was remitted to the Civil Court for a new determination.
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Five Boro Med. Equip., Inc. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 51481(U))

The court considered the defendant-insurer's motion for summary judgment dismissing the underlying first-party no-fault action. The main issue decided was whether the defendant had submitted competent proof of the assignor's nonappearance at scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs). The court held that the defendant’s motion for summary judgment should have been denied, as the conclusory affidavits of the defendant's IME doctors lacked probative value and failed to adequately state the basis of their recollection that the assignor did not appear on the scheduled IME dates. Therefore, the court reversed the order and denied defendant's motion.
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